Hydraulic motor device



Sep t. 24, 1963 J. B. 6088 3,104,529

HYDRAULIC MOTOR DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1961 1/060 .5. GOJJ INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,104,529 RAULIC MOTOR DEVICE John B. Goss, 4530 Magnolia St., Bellaire, Tex.

Filed Feb. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 89,022 4 Claims. (Cl. 60-53) This invention relates to hydraulic motors and is particularly concerned with apparatus for driving such motors.

The employment of hydraulic motors, particularly in hoisting equipment, presents the problem, among others, of large starting load. Thus, it is conventionally necessary to provide a prime mover of relatively large capacity, and hence of inconveniently large size, for driving the motor-actuating pump mechanism. Funther, in such instances, it is also normally necessary to employ a relatively large quantity of hydraulic fluid thereby adding even more to the bulk and inconvenience of the unit by necessitating employment of a large fluid reservoir. For these and other reasons, hydraulic motor units are frequently operationally and economically impractical of use in situations where, if they could 'be employed, they would be far safer and effective than other power sources. It is an object of the present invention to provide driving apparatus for hydraulic motors, which apparatus will be relatively light-weight and compact, and adapted to start-up under zero load.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the type described, which apparatus will require a relatively small quantity of hydraulic fluid.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide apparatus of the type described, which apparatus will operate safely and effectively under loads which, relative to the requirements for driving said apparatus, are significantly large.

There are, of course, other objects and advantages of this invention, some of which will become apparent from the following general description of the invention and the detailed description of the one embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, a relatively small closed chamber serves as the reservoir for the hydraulic fluid. Suitable pump and valve means are then operably associated with the reservoir chamber in such a manner that upon operable connection of the system to an hydraulic motor, actuation of the apparatus will circulate the hydraulic fluid under zero load until at least substantially maximum pressure is attained and then divert circulation of the pressurized fluid through the hydraulic motor to effect operation thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective showing the apparatus embodying the invention drivably connected to atypical cable drum and illustrating the relative sizes of the prime mover, the apparatus of the invention, the hydraulic motor, and the drum and its associated gear box.

FIGURE 2 is a rear end elevation showing the operating handle, the prime mover and the prime movcr'switching assembly.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along line 33 of FIG- URE 2 showing, schematically, the valve and pump assembly and indicating the normal hydraulic fluid level in dotted line.

314,529? Patented Sept. 24., 1963 In the illustrated embodiment, a conventional cable drum 5 carried by frame 6 is drivahly connected to bydraulic motor 8 through gear 'boX 7; motor 8 being conveniently secured to gear box 7 by means of two oppositely disposed mounting studs 10 and operably cornrnunicating therewith through driven shaft 9. Motor 8 is then conventionally driven by the forced circulation therethrough of hydraulic fluid delivered from reservoir 12 to motor 8 through one of hoses 11 and returned to reservoir 12 through the other of hoses =11.

Conveniently carried within reservoir 12 are a conventional hydraulic fluid pump 23 and a conventional threeway valve 26. When reservoir 12 is charged with hydraulic fluid it will normally be substantially filled, as indicated by dotted line 30 which represents an operable fluid level. Thus, both pump 23 and valve 25 are immersed in hydraulic fluid to thereby become conveniently self-lubricating.

While reservoir 12, as constructed, is a permanently sealed unit, it has been found desirable, particularly where the unit is subjected to ambient temperatures, to provide an atmospheric-pressure-responsive one-way ball check 13 in the top wall thereof in order to insure against development of partial vacuum in the space between the reservoir wall and the hydraulic fluid. Further, should the unit ever require any additional charge of hydraulic fluid ball check 13 provides convenient access to the reservoir. To drive pump 23 it is conveniently drivably connected to an electric motor 16 by means of a drive shaft 32 which electric motor serves as a prime mover for the entire device. While electric motor 16 is normally most convenient, such other power sources as gasoline or air motors may also be used.

For operation of the apparatus there is provided an operating handle 17 which may, if desired, be equipped with an operating handle extension 19. The fixed end of operating handle 17 is secured to valve stem 31 of valve 26; valve stem 3-1 =being operably connected to valve 26 in any convenient manner, as for example, directly, in which case valve 26 would have to be tiirned degrees from its schematically indicated position, or if desired by means of a suitable bell crank arrangement. The fixed end of operating handle 17 is then provided with a pair of identical but oppositely disposed cams 29 which constantly engage follower 21 of switch assembly 15 which switch assembly is conveniently carried by res- 3 ervoir 12 to connect electric motor 16 to an electric power source by means of conductors 14 and 18.

Thus, when it is desired to power drum; 5, operating handle 17 is swung either up or down (depending upon the desired direction of rotation of the drum) from its neutral position (indicated in FIGURE 2) whereupon one of cams 20 will immediately urge follower 21 against pin 22 of switch assembly 15, closing switch 15 and energizing electric motor 16. At this instant pump 23 will commence intake of hydraulic fluid through inlet 24 and circulation thereof under zero load through conduit 25 and passageway 29 of valve 26 back to reservoir 12 for recirculation thereby bringing the fluid to a minimum circulatory pressure almost instantaneously. Then, as operating handle 17 continues to swing around, valve stem 31 of valve 26 will turn passageway 29 out of alignment with the input from conduit 25, blocking off the fluid and causing the fluid pressure in conduit 25 to increase. The operating handle 17 moves further until passageway 27 or passageway 28 is brought into alignment with conduit 25 and one of hoses 11. When this is done, circulation of the fluid will be diverted through hydraulic motor 8. In essence, the movement of operating handle 17 starts the pump under minimum load, increases the fluid pressure (pre-pressurizes the fluid), and connects the pro-pressurized fluid to the hydraulic motor.

From the foregoing it will be seen that hydraulic motor driving apparatus embodying the present invention will readily admit of compact light-weight construction. Further, because of its pre-pressurizing of the hydraulic fluid, start-up of the apparatus does not subject the prime mover to the strain imposed by start-up under load thereby permitting employment of a prime mover of relatively low capacity and hence of small and compact size. Moreover, since the fluid is at a high pressure when coupled to the hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor responds immediately to drive a load.

Beyond this, it is significant to note that systems cmbodying the present invention are extremely safe. Reference to FIGURE 3 of the accompanying drawings will show that when the operating handle is in neutral position, flow of fluid through either of hoses 11 is absolutely precluded, Thus, the hydraulic motor, and hence that to which it is mechanically connected, is positively braked even if a power failure occurs in the prime mover. Moreover, it should be notedthat variable driving speeds are attainable by simple positioning of the operating handle to partially close either of passageways 27 or 28. It has also been found that apparatus embodying the present invention will admit of positive stops and instant reversing.

The foregoing detailed description of one embodiment of this invention has been given for the sole purposes of facilitating understanding of the invention by persons skilled in the art. The invention itself is of much broader scope than this or any other single embodiment and should not, therefore, be limited to any of the particular details of the illustrated embodiment. While it is important that apparatus embodying the invention be adapted to initiate pm-pressurization and circulation of the fluid before a work load is imposed upon the system, this feature may be obtained with many other embodiments of the invent-ion.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus (f! driving reversible, rotary hydraulic motors, the combination of:

a closed chamber adapted to contain a quantity of liquid;

pump means associated with said chamber to circulate liquid contained therein;

a reversible, rotary hydraulic motor;

valve means communicating with said chamber to suecessively direct liquid circulated by said pump means 4 through said chamber and through said hydraulic motor; and, a control means separable from said valve means and having an operating handle operable upon manipulation of said operating handle, to a first position to first energize said pump means causing the pump means to circulate hydraulic fluid in said chamber, and then operate said valve means to direct liquid circulated by said pump means in one direction through said hydraulic motor, and operable upon actuation of said operating handle to a second position to first energize said pump means, causing the pump means to circulate hydraulic fluid in said chamber, and then operate said valve means to direct said hydraulic motor for rotation in one direction after said switch means is actuated;

said operating handle being further arranged for movement in another direction to first actuate said switch means, thereby energizing said pump means, and to manipulate said shaft causing said valve means to energize said hydraulic motor for rotation in the opposite direct-ion after said switch means is actuated. 3. Apparatus, as described in claim 2, wherein: said operating handle is attached to said shaft and rotary movement of said shaft from a neutral position to a first position in one direction causes said valve means to circulate fluid in one direction" through said hydraulic motor, and rotary movement of said shaft from said neutral position to a second position in the opposite direction causes said valve means to circulate fluid in the opposite direction through said hydraulic motor,

said valve means connects said pump means in a closed circuit with said reservoir in said shaft neutral position; said pump means includes a fluid pump driven by an electric motor; i said switch means has an operating member disposed adjacent said operating handle and is arranged to connect an electric source to said electric motor; and said operating handle has a cam means that operates said switch .means, energizing said pump interme diate said neutral and first shaft positions and intermediate said neutral and second shaft positions. 44 An apparatus for driving reversible, rotary motors, the combination of: r

a reservoir constituting a chamber adapted'to contain a quantity of liquid; pump means associated with said reservoir to circulate liquid contained therein; a reversible rotary hydraulic motor;

a valve means communicating with said reservoir to successively direct liquid circulated by said pump means through said chamber and through said hydraulic motor; and, p a control means separable from said valve means and being operable upon activation in one mode to first energize said pump means causing the pump means to circulate hydraulic fluid in said chamber and then operate said valve means to momentarily stop fluid circulation, thereby building up fluid pressure'from said pump means, and then directing liquid circulated by said pump means in one direction through said hydraulic motor, and operable upon activation in another mode to first energize said pump means, causing the pump means to circulate hydraulic fluid in said chamber and then operate said valve means to momentarily stop fluid circulation, thereby building up fluid pressure from said pump means, and then directing liquid circulated by said pump means in the opposite direction through said hydraulic motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Buck May 6, 1941 Austin May 20, 1941 Peterson Nov. 25, 1941 Dean July 6, 1943 Phillips May 30, 1950 Rappl Sept. 9, 1952 Ackerman Sept. 23, 1952 Stelzer Feb. 26, 1957 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR DRIVING REVERSIBLE, ROTARY HYDRAULIC MOTORS, THE COMBINATION OF: A CLOSED CHAMBER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A QUANTITY OF LIQUID; PUMP MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CHAMBER TO CIRCULATE LIQUID CONTAINED THEREIN; A REVERSIBLE, ROTARY HYDRAULIC MOTOR; VALVE MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER TO SUCCESSIVELY DIRECT LIQUID CIRCULATED BY SAID PUMP MEANS THROUGH SAID CHAMBER AND THROUGH SAID HYDRAULIC MOTOR; AND, A CONTROL MEANS SEPARABLE FROM SAID VALVE MEANS AND HAVING AN OPERATING HANDLE OPERABLE UPON MANIPULATION OF SAID OPERATING HANDLE, TO A FIRST POSITION TO FIRST ENERGIZE SAID PUMP MEANS CAUSING THE PUMP MEANS TO CIRCULATE HYDRAULIC FLUID IN SAID CHAMBER, AND THEN OPERATE SAID VALVE MEANS TO DIRECT LIQUID CIRCULATED BY SAID PUMP MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION THROUGH SAID HYDRAULIC MOTOR, AND OPERABLE UPON ACTUATION OF SAID OPERATING HANDLE TO A SECOND POSITION TO FIRST ENERGIZE SAID PUMP MEANS, CAUSING THE PUMP MEANS TO CIRCULATE HYDRAULIC FLUID IN SAID CHAMBER, AND THEN OPERATE SAID VALVE MEANS TO DIRECT LIQUID CIRCULATED BY SAID PUMP MEANS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THROUGH SAID HYDRAULIC MOTOR. 